Is it my imagination or did Andy and Opie have heavier southern accents in season one? Also it seems like they used more colorful sayings, like Tennessee Ernie Ford did on I Love Lucy.

I don't have the series on DVD yet, so I can't compare the early episodes to the later ones. I'm just stuck with what TVLand chooses to air.

I never noticed about the sayings, but Andys accent was heavier in season one. I noticed that YEARS ago.
Opies wasn't though. (at least, I never thought so)

Is it my imagination or did Andy and Opie have heavier southern accents in season one? Also it seems like they used more colorful sayings, like Tennessee Ernie Ford did on I Love Lucy.

I don't have the series on DVD yet, so I can't compare the early episodes to the later ones. I'm just stuck with what TVLand chooses to air.

Oh definitely. Andy would say stuff like "There's more than one way to skin a cat". I also noticed in earlier seasons when Andy would smile, he would show all of his teeth.